Protection signalling system for self service elevators



a- 12, 1969 E. J. HANSEN 3,461,422

PROTECTION SIGNALLING SYSTEM FOR SELF-SERVICE ELEVATORS Filed Oct. 13.1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gamma/a6 3 0 0 A C E l a; a A B 0 D E 7 INVENTOR\Z9. 5' ZTww/v (fly/v55 ATTORNEYfi Pat t 3,461,422 PROTECTION SIGNALLINGSYSTEM FOR SELF- SERVHIE ELEVATORS Edwin J. Hansen, 2996 lFerucrestDrive, Yorktown Heights, NY. 10598 Filed Oct. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 495,578lint. Cl. nan 3/02 US. Cl. 340-21 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DESCLOSUREAn alarm system for an elevator which operates between a plurality ofseparated landings and which gives an appropriate alarm whenever theelevator stops except at one of the landings, thereby eliminating thenecessity of trying to open the hoistway door to sound an alarm. In theembodiment disclosed, the alarm can also be given whenever emergency orservice areas are entered without authorization or the hoistway door isopened between landings.

This invention relates to alarm systems for elevators and moreparticularly this invention relates to automatic alarm systems for usein conjunction with elevators in situations where manually operablealarm systems are unsatisfactory.

There are many situations when manually actuated alarm means in anelevator cannot be used and therefore the provision of a button orswitch inside the elevator to energize the alarm system is of no use.Instances of situations where manually actuated alarm means areunsatisfactory are as follows:

(1) The passengers may be thrown to the floor due to a sudden stop andrendered unable to rise and activate the manual alarm, an automaticalarm system is a necessity;

(2) The passengers may be victims to a crime (elevators can easily bestalled between floors); and

(3) The elevator may stall with a small child therein who is unable toreach the alarm button.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide means forautomatically activating an alarm system if an elevator should stop orbe stopped for any reason or by means between predetermined floor stops.

Another object of this invention is to insure passengers of medicalassistance in event of an accident resulting from a sharp halt of anelevator between floors rendering the passengers unable to activate amanual alarm button.

Another object of this invention is to protect passengers from criminalattempts upon them in an elevator stalled between floors.

Another object of this invention is to protect small children in anelevator stalled between floors.

A further object of this invention is to prevent children playing aroundelevator equipment from being injured by restricting the movement ofelevators to the restricted passenger area.

A further object of this invention is to protect elevator equipmentagainst vandalism if an elevator door, above or below the elevator, isforced open.

A brief description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention foraccomplishing the above-mentioned objects will now be given.

As long as the elevator is operating normally (that is, moving betweenlandings or stopping at landings), there will be no activation of thealarm system. However, the alarm system will be activated wheneverunwarranted entrance into the service area or elevator shaft occurs.Unwarranted entry into the elevator shaft occurs when a hoistway door isopened which is located above or below the current position of theelevator.

3,461,422 Patented Aug. 12, 1969 ice Assuming that an unwarrantedentrance to the service area or elevator shaft occurs, the elevator hasassociated therewith switching means which will automatically activatean alarm remotely located in at least one supervisory area. An alarm isnormally held inoperative by keeping switching means open, the switchingmeans be-- ing connected in circuit with the alarm. Switch actuatingmeans may be provided on the elevator and on the elevator control panelto insure that the alarm will not be activated as long as the elevatoroperation is normal and no abnormal stops occur between landings.

Further switching means automatically activate the alarm upon detectionof hoistway doors being improperly opened. Switching means are alsoprovided to detect unauthorized entry into the elevator service area,said switching means operating in conjunction with the alarm system.

An alarm system has thus been described which warns the properauthorities of all abnormal events occurring with respect to theelevator system which require immediate attention.

The invention will now be described in detail with respect to a specificembodiment thereof, this embodiment being illustrative only and in noway restrictive as to how the invention may be practiced. In order tomore fully understand the detailed description, reference should be madeto the drawings where:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram showing the elevator at a normal stopwith hoistway door open, the elevator being located at the third floorlanding;

FIGURE 2 is a simplified schematic circuit of an automatic control foran elevator alarm, the automatic control circuit illustrating one aspectof the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthe invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a preferredmethod for energizing the alarm circuit independently of theenergization provided to the elevator.

Referring to FIGURE 1 there is shown a complete elevator system for asingle elevator. As shown, a single elevator 10 serves five landings,12, 14, 16, 18, and 20. The roof is indicated at 22. It will, of course,be understood that the invention may easily be adapted to a multipleelevator system serving any number of landings.

The elevator is shown at a normal stop at the third floor landing withthe hoistway door 24 open. A switch actuating means or cam 26 ispositioned at the elevator It to provide actuation of switches 28whenever the elevator approaches a landing and stops thereat. That is,the switch 28 located at the third landing 16 will be actuated due tothe engagement thereof by switch actuating means 26 as shown inFIGURE 1. Switch 28 may typically be mounted in the hoistway or on thefloor selector, the hoistway generally being indicated at 30. If theswitch actuating means 26 employed is a cam, it should not be longerthan the retiring cam or master door clutch used to unlock the doors.

Switch actuating means 32 are respectively positioned at each landingand control the actuation of switch 34, positioned on the elevator. Thepositioning of switch 34 on the elevator and the location of switchactuating means 32 within the hoistway or on the floor selector isarbitrary. That is, it is not critical as to where the switch actuatingmeans 26 or 32 and the switches 28 or 34 are positioned. The importantthing is that these switches be actuated when the elevator 10 approachesand stops at a given landing. Switch actuating means 32 may also be acam subject to the same restrictions as placed on switch actuating means26 with respect to the retiring cam or master door clutch.

Switches 36 respectively located at each landing are respectivelyactuated by the movement of the hoistway doors 24that is, when any oneof the doors 24 is opened, the switch 36 is actuated by a switchactuating means 38, preferably mounted on the door. Many expedientswould be available to one skilled in this art to provide the necessaryswitch actuating means 38 for actuating switches 36; therefore, there isno need to discuss this in detail.

An elevator control panel 40 is provided. Such panels are normallyprovided in elevator systems and have means therein to control thestarting and stopping of the elevator. Switch means 42 are provided withthe elevator control panel to sense the starting and stopping of theelevator. Such an expedient is well within the skill of one practicingthis art since there is obviously a first electrical indicationavailable whenever the elevator is moving and a second indicationwhenever the elevator has stopped. The switch 42 may typically be of therelay type, it being sensitive to the electrical indications at theelevator control panel 40. An alarm control panel 44, separate from theelevator control panel, may be provided to control the operation ofalarm 46. Alarm 46 may be of any wellknown typefor instance, a buzzer,light or siren, etc. can be employed or a combination of these deviceswired in parallel, can be used at various locations. Further, thesystem, if desired, can be incorporated into the system of a protectionagency or a closed TV circuit. The alarm control panel is optional andmay or may not be necessary depending on the adaptability of theelevator control panel to absorb the additional functions required of itin providing an automatic alarm system. The wiring or electricalconnections from the elevator control panel in the alarm panel to theVarious electrical components comprising the system is generallyindicated at 48, more specific references being made to the wiringarrangement in FIGURES 2 and 3.

A description of a simplified automatic control circuit for an elevatoralarm system, as shown in FIGURE 2, will now be given. The controlcircuit is energized by a source 50 connected to energizing wires 52 and54. The source of energy is typically 110 volt or 220 volt powersupplied by the local power installation. A fuse 56 is provided toprotect the circuitry in case of overloading. Alarm 46 is connected inseries circuit with switches 42 and 34, shown in FIGURE 1.

In parallel with the switches 34 and 42 are switches 58 and 60. Theseswitches are representative of switches mounted on doors, windows andother means of egress to elevator equipment service areas. Emergencyescape doors on the elevator car would also be provided when suchswitches as represented by switches 58 and 60 to provide an automaticalarm when these doors or hatches are improperly opened. Although onlytwo switches are shown (that is, switches 58 and 60), it will, ofcourse, be understood that as many switches as are necessary can beconnected in parallel to provide the proper protection for the elevatorsystem. Repeating, the system is only protected when all means of egressto the hoistway from either doors or windows located therein or from theelevator car through the escape door thereof, are provided with switchmeans which are automatically actuated whenever any of these means ofegress to the elevator system are improperly opened. It is not intendedto use any of the switches represented by switches 58 or 60 on thehoistway landing doors or elevator car doors or gates.

A master disconnect switch 62 is provided in line 54. Partial disconnectswitches 64 and 66 are respectively provided in the circuits containingthe switches 34, 42 and switches 58, 60. The master and partialdisconnect switches are provided to allow authorized personnel to gainentrance to a desired area by disconnecting the appropriate switch. Forinstance, if access is desired to the service area, partial disconnectswitch 66 would be dis connected, thereby preventing alarm activation.

Operation of the alarm control circuit of FIGURE 2 will now bedescribed. Assuming that the elevator car is at a normal floor stop (forinstance stopped at floor 3 as shown in FIGURE 1), and assuming thatdisconnect switch 64 is closed, switch 42 will be closed, it beingsensitive to the fact that the elevator car has stopped. Switch 34 willbe opened, the switch actuating means 32 shown in FIGURE 4 opening thisswitch as long as the car is located at the elevator landing. Furtherassuming that the master disconnect switch is closed, alarm 46 will notbe activated from energizing source 50 since switch 34 remains open.

When the elevator starts, this will be sensed at the elevator controlpanel and thereby causing switch 42 to open. Switch 34 will move awayfrom the switch actuating means 32, thereby returning to its closedposition. Therefore, the alarm 46 remains unactivated because switch 42has now opened, thereby maintaining an open circuit in the path fromenergizing source 50 to alarm 46.

If the elevator should stop between landings, switch 34 will remainclosed since it is not within physical proximity of switch actuatingmeans 32. The stopping .of the elevator will be sensed at the electroniccontrol panel and therefore switch 42 will close, resulting in theclosure of the path from energizing source 50 to the alarm 46. The alarmwill sound and the proper authorities will be promptly notified.

A description will now be given of the automatic alarm system whenimproper egress is made to the elevator equipment rooms or serviceareas. As stated before, each of the means of egress to these areas areprovided with switch means which are actuated when improper egress ismade. Assuming that partial disconnect switch .66 is closed and improperegress is made to one of these areas, either switch 58 or 60 will close,thereby closing the path from energizing source 50 to alarm 46 throughthe closed switch 58 or 60.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a description will now be given of a moredetailed and complete automatic alarm control circuit for an elevatorsystem.

An energizing source 68 is provided for alarm 46, the main energizingwires being 70 and 72. The connection from wires 70 and 72 through alarm46 is normally open, thereby preventing actuation of the alarm. An alarmrelay 74 is provided in a bypass circuit, generally indicated at 76. Thecontacts 78 of alarm relay 74 are connected in series with the alarm 46to control the activation thereof. Switches 58 and 60, corresponding tothe switches having the same reference numerals as in FIGURE 2, servethe same purpose as those switches in FIGURE 3. Switches 34 and 42generally correspond to the switches having the same numerals in FIGURE2that is, they are respectively actuated by the electronic control paneland the switch actuating means 32; however, they operate in reverse fromthe switches shown in FIGURE 2. That is, switch 42 is so arranged inFIGURE 3 that it opens when the car is stopped and closes when the caris moving. The switch actuating means for both switches 34 and 42basically remain the same as that shown and described with respect toFIGURES 1 and 2. Of course, it would be obvious to one skilled in thisart that the only important thing with respect to switches 34 and 42 isthat during normal operation, they must act oppositely from oneanother-that is, when one is closed the other must be open.

Switches 28 and 36 are connected respectively in parallel with eachother. That is, the switches 28 and 36 associated with the first floorlanding are connected in parallel with each other and indicated at A inFIGURE 3. The switches 28 and 36, associated with the second floorlanding are again connected in parallel with each other and indicated atB in FIGURE 3. The remaining parallel combinations of switches 28 and 36are respectively shown at C, D, and E in FIGURE 3. The parallelcombinations of switches 28 and 36 are connected in series with eachother and in series with the parallel combination of switches 34 and 42.

In order to more fully understand the invention, a description of itsoperation will now be given. The contacts 78 of alarm relay 74 arenormally closed. However, when relay 74 is energized, the contacts 78will be open as shown in FIGURE 3. As long as the contacts 78 are open,alarm 46 cannot be energized from energizing source 68 because of theopen circuit between lines 70 and 72, this, of course, assuming that theswitches 58 and 60 are also open. In the following discussion, it willbe assumed that switches 58 and 60 are open, their operation beingalready described with respect to FIGURE 2.

As long as current flows through relay 74, the contacts 78 remain open.As soon as a break in the current flow from line 70 to line 72 is causedby any of the parallel switch combinations 28 and 36, or 34 and 42, thecontacts 78 close and the alarm 46 is activated. It is assumed that theelevator is presently parked at the third landing as shown in FIGURE 1with the hoistway door 24 open. Switch 36 at the third floor landing isopen but switch 28 at this landing is closed because switch actuatingmeans 26 on the car is positioned to actuate switch 36 as the elevatorapproaches the landing, thus maintaining current through alarm relay 74when switch 36 is opened by the hoistway door at the third landing.Should any other hoistway door be open for instance, the hoistway doorat the first landing, switch 36 at this landing will be opened and sinceswitch 28 at this landing must also be open (since it is not beingactuated by the switch actuating means 26), the energizing current forrelay 74 will be interrupted. This, as stated above, causes the closureof contacts 78, thereby resulting in the activation of alarm 36 fromsource 78.

Assume, once again, normal operation. As the elevator prepares to leavethe third landing, the hoistway door will be closed, closing switch 36at this landing. Switch 42 will be actuated as the elevator starts, theelevator control panel sensing the movement of the elevator as describedhereinbefore. As the elevator leaves the third floor landing, switch 36at all of the landings will be closed and switch 42 will be closed,maintaining the energization of relay 74. Switch 28 at the third landingwill open because it is no longer actuated by switch actuating means 26and switch 34 will open because it is no longer actuated by switchactuating means 32; however, the energizing circuit for relay 74 ismaintained as mentioned above.

If the elevator should stop for any reason between landings or if anydoor is opened while the elevator is in between landings, switch 42 orany of the switches 36 at any of the landings will be opened, therebyinterrupting the relay and causing activation of the alarm.

Reference should now be made to FIGURE 4 which shows a preferredenergization arrangement for the alarm system. To provide additionalprotection, an independent energization source 80 should be provided forthe alarm circuitry-that is, independent of the energy supplied to theelevator. There is shown an energy source 80 which is independent of thesource shown for the elevator system 68. A transformer 82 may beprovided to insure that the alarm is properly matched to the availablepower supply and equipment. The alarm relay contacts 78 and masterdisconnect switch 62 are shown in series with alarm 46, thiscorresponding to the arrangement shown in FIG- URE 3 but, of course,being simplified. The switches and alarm relay shown in FIGURE 4correspond to the by-pass circuit 76 of FIGURE 3 where once again thecomponents shown in FIGURE 4 perform the same functions as those shownin FIGURE 3.

By providing the additional energization source 80, the alarm system isnow capable of functioning when the power supply to the elevator systemfails. As soon as the power fails, current in alarm relay 46 will cease,thereby permitting contacts 78 to return to their normally closedposition, which results in the energization of alarm 46 from independentenergization source 80.

Thus, there has been described a control circuit (FIG- URE 2 or 3) forautomatically actuating an alarm 46 by coupling the alarm to anenergization source 50 where the actuation occurs when an elevator stopsor halts between landings or only when a hoistway door to an elevatorshaft or hoistway is opened without the elevator being parked at theopened hoistway door. This control circuit is extremely simple toimplement and provides foolproof protection of the entire elevatorsystem. Further switch means (switches 58 and 60) have been incorporatedinto the system with great ease, these switches thwarting unauthorizedentrance to the elevator equip- J ment service areas.

The control circuit in particular for actuating the alarm when theelevator stops between landings comprises switching means (switch 42)for normally coupling the energization source to the alarm 46 wheneverthe ele vator stops-that is, switch 42 will normally cause the alarm tobe actuated if no other precaution were taken to prevent this actuation.However, means (switch 34) is provided for preventing the coupling ofthe alarm to the energization source by switch 42, this preventingaction taking place only when the elevator is normally parked at alanding.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the switches 34 and 42 are connected in seriescircuit with each other and with the alarm 46. Another variation in theswitching arrangement is shown in FIGURE 3 where the switches 34 and 42are in parallel circuit with each other and in series circuit with arelay means (relay 74), where the abovementioned parallel and seriescircuits comprise a by-pass circuit 76. The contacts 78 of relay 74 arein series circuit with the alarm 46, this series circuit being connectedto the energization source together with and parallel to theabove-mentioned by-pass circuit. Of course, other variations ofarranging the switches 34 and 42 in conjunction with the alarm 46 willoccur to those skilled in the art.

A switch actuating means (switch actuators 32) is also provided at eachof the landings and is responsive to the elevator being normally parkedat one of the landings for actuating the preventing switching means(switch 34). Also provided is a further energization means (source 68)independent of source 80 for energizing the abovementioned by-passcircuit where the further energization source provides operating powerfor the elevator.

A control circuit is also described in FIGURE 3 for actuating the alarmwhen at least one hoistway door to an elevator shaft or a hoistway isopened without the elevator being parked at the opened door. Thiscircuit comprises means (switch 36) for normally coupling theenergization source to the alarm whenever any of the hoistway doorsopen; however, the means (switch 28) are provided to prevent coupling ofthe energization source to the alarm by switch 36 only when the elevatoris normally parked at the opened or hoistway door. Switch actuatingmeans (switches 38) are responsive to the hoistway doors being openedand a further switch actuating means (switch actuator 26) is responsiveto the elevator being normally parked, thereby actuating the preventingswitching means 28, the switch actuators 38 actuating the couplingswitching means 36.

Further, there has been described a control circuit (see FIGURE 3) whichcombines all of the protective features necessary for a truly completeand eifective automatic alarm for an elevator system. Together with thecontrol circuitry for activating the alarm whenever an elevator stopsbetween landings or whenever a hoistway door is opened to the elevatorshaft without the elevator being parked at that door, means (switches 58and 60) have been provided whenever any of the means of egress to theelevator shaft or elevator service area are entered withoutauthorization where switching means (switches 58 and 60) are associatedwith each of the means of egress. These switches are in parallel witheach other and in parallel with the contacts 7 8 of the alarm relaymeans 74.

Having now described circuitry for accomplishing the objects of thisinvention, other objects and advantageaus and, even further modificationof the invention, will become apparent to one skilled in this art uponreading this disclosure.

What is claimed is: 1. A control circuit for automatically activating analarm by coupling said alarm to an energization source, said alarm beingactivated only when at least one elevator stops between landings, saidcircuit comprising:

means for normally coupling said energization source to said alarmwhenever said elevator stops; and

means for preventing the coupling of said alarm to said energizationsource by said first-mentioned means only when said elevator is normallyparked at one of said landings.

2. A control circuit as in claim 1 where said coupling means includes aswitch and said preventing means includes a switch.

3. A control circuit as in claim 2 where both said switching means areconnected in series circuit with each other and with said alarm.

4. A control circuit as in claim 2 including relay means in circuit withboth said switching means, the contacts of said relay means being incircuit with said alarm.

5. A control circuit as in claim 4 where both said switching means arein parallel circuit with each other and in series circuit with saidrelay means, said parallel and series circuits comprising a by-passcircuit for said alarm, said by-pass circuit being coupled to saidenergization source; and

where the contacts of said relay means are in series circuit with saidalarm means, said series circuit also being connected to saidenergization source and in parallel to said by-pass circuit.

6. A control circuit as in claim 5 including further energization meansindependent of said first-mentioned energization means for energizingsaid by-pass circuit, said further energization means providingoperating power for said elevator.

7. Apparatus having a control circuit as in claim 2 including switchactuating means responsive to said elevator being normally parked at oneof said landings for actuating said preventing switching means.

8. A control circuit for automatically activating an alarm by couplingsaid alarm to an energization source, said alarm being activatedwhenever at least one elevator stops between landings or at least onehoistway door to an elevator shaft is opened without the elevator beingparked at said opened hoistway door, said circuit comprising:

means for normally coupling said energization source to said alarmwhenever said elevator stops;

means for preventing the coupling of said alarm to said energizationsource by said first-mentioned means only when said elevator is normallyparked at one of said landings;

means for normally coupling said energization source to said alarmwhenever any of the hoistway doors to said elevator shaft are opened;and

means for preventing the coupling of said energization source to saidalarm by said second-mentioned coupling means only when said elevator isnormally parked at said opened hoistway door.

9. A control circuit as in claim 8 for further automatically activatingsaid alarm whenever any of the means of egress to said elevator shaft orto the elevator service area are opened without authorization, saidcontrol circuit further including switching means associated with eachof said means of egress for activating said alarm whenever saidunauthorized opening of said means of egress occurs.

10. A control circuit as in claim 8 where said firstmentioned andsecond-mentioned coup-ling means and said first-mentioned andsecond-mentioned preventing means respectively include a switch.

11. A control circuit as in claim 10 including relay means in circuitwith the said first and second-mentioned coupling switching means andthe said first and second preventing switching means, the contacts ofsaid relay means being in series circuit with said alarm and where saidfirst-mentioned coupling switching means and preventing switching meansare in parallel circuit with each other and in series circuit with saidrelay means, and where said second-mentioned coupling switching meansand preventing means are in parallel circuit with each other and inseries circuit with said relay means, said series circuit of said relaymeans and said switching means comprising a by-pass circuit for saidalarm, said by-pass circuit being coupled to said energization source,said series circuit of said alarm and said relay contacts also beingconnected to said energization source and in parallel circuit to saidby-pass circuit.

12. A control circuit as in claim 11 for further automaticallyactivating said alarm whenever any of the means of egress to saidelevator shaft or to the elevator service area are opened withoutauthorization, said control circuit further including a switching meansrespectively associated with each of said means of egrees in parallelcircuit with each other and said contacts of said relay means foractivating said alarm whenever said unauthorized opening of said meansof said egrees occurs.

13. An elevator alarm system for an elevator operating between aplurality of separated landings and having entrance means operablebetween a first position permitting entrance to and exit from saidelevator and a second position preventing entrance to and exit from saidelevator comprising:

alarm means for giving a signal indicating an abnormal condition in saidelevator, and

first means for causing said alarm means to give said signal Wheneversaid elevator stops except at one of said landings regardless of theposition of said entrance means.

.14. A system as in claim 13 including a second means for causing saidalarm means to give said signal whenever said entrance means operatesfrom said second to said first position except at one of said landings.

15. A system as in claim 14 including a third means for causing saidalarm to give said signal whenever any of the means of egress to theelevator shaft or to the elevator service area are opened withoutauthorization.

16. A system as in claim 15 wherein said first, second and third meanseach include a switch which is closed to cause said alarms means to givesaid signal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,523,359 9/1950 Deibele 34019ALVIN H. WARING, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

